Just started our DIY set up, need advice

[Jdcarrol]

Hello, we finally came online this morning! It's been since last August until now, mid-April. But we've learned alot, haven't died nor burnt our house down. We have 3 series running, but only 1 seems to be producing. Any advice on where to start the troubleshooting? see attached image.

 

[G00SE]

What panels and what string orientations?

 

[Jdcarrol]

@G00SE , PV 1 & 2 face East on pitched roof. PV3 faces West on back side of the pitched roof. PV 1 is series of 10 panels, PV 2 is a series of 8 and PV 3 is a series of 10.

 

[EZPZ]

Are the strings identically setup?
Check the voltage at the arrays then at the inverter mppts. Carefully. Very carefully!!

 

[G00SE]

@G00SE , PV 1 & 2 face East on pitched roof. PV3 faces West on back side of the pitched roof. PV 1 is series of 10 panels, PV 2 is a series of 8 and PV 3 is a series of 10.

I found another thread of yours with panel specs.
Input into the Midnite string calculator (I picked temps of -10 Celsius to 65 Celsius as it’s never been 15 degrees F in the 30yrs I was in phx so it leaves a bit of cushion)

This is for 10 panels in series, which should be no issue on any of the inputs. 8, even more of a buffer.



So it would seem apparent all panel strings are well within specs for the inverter, I would start looking at connections one by one and see if there’s any issues on string one and three

 

[Jdcarrol]

I mentally prepared myself that we'd have to take things apart. We'll get there eventually

 

[Jdcarrol]

@G00SE , why would it show 1~2V, isn't in an all or nothing thing?

 

[G00SE]

I mentally prepared myself that we'd have to take things apart. We'll get there eventually

Looks like you’ve got a solid foundation of equipment. Hopefully it’s something trivial. String 1 should be getting the same sun as 2 so the fact it’s at 0 makes me thing there’s a wire issue somewhere

 

[G00SE]

@G00SE , why would it show 1~2V, isn't in an all or nothing thing?

Maybe leakage and/or slight back feed. I saw a YouTube of a guy that put leads on a Victron MPPT and got 1-2v

 

[dyaniibrian]

Hello! I need some guidance as I'm new to solar setups. I have ten 6V 250Ah batteries from a Moke electric car, which I replaced with lithium ones. I want to use these batteries to build a solar setup because we frequently lose power in Georgia. I'm looking for advice on the best setup. Should I string them to 48V, although it might mean losing some batteries, or should I run them at 12V in series and parallel to maximize the amp-hours?